The gold rods were concealed and stitched along the beading of the hand baggage of the passenger, hailing from Kannur district, they said.
Naushad was intercepted at the exit gate while he was passing through the Green Channel on suspicion that he was carrying contraband gold.
He replied in the negative when asked if he had any gold with him, but an X-ray scan of his baggage (two pieces checked in and one hand baggage), showed dark coloured metal rods in hand luggage alongside the beadings, a customs release said.
Naushad was arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 and later released on bail.